Prostitutes leave Lome bases for Ghana

GNA

A number of prostitutes operating in some hotels and restaurants in Lome, the Togolese capital, have deserted their posts in search of greener pastures as they relocate to busy places in Ghana to take advantage of the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations soccer fiesta.

As a result of the massive relocation, most of the facilities have been recording low patronage with very poor sales in the past few days since the commencement of the tournament in neighbouring Ghana.

This came to light when some patrons close to the hotels and restaurants spoke to GNA Sports.

GNA on Monday crossed to the Togolese side of the border to monitor the mood of Nigerians after the 2-1 drubbing by Ghana's Black stars at the quarterfinal stage of the tournament on Sunday.

The sources said the "good time women" served as beacons for hospitality business by attracting men to the joints but they have moved to Ghana leaving the facilities at the border town dry.

One source, who wanted to remain anonymous, said it was disappointing to see clients arrive, look round or stay for a while and leave because they find "no dame nice and colourful enough to lure them to want to stay for a while".

"Business is really bad. Rooms are empty. Food and drinks are not being bought," another source close to one of the facilities said.

"These days resemble occasions after the security authorities raid the area to arrest and disperse these prostitutes," one other source said.

The prostitutes, who operate mainly around Décor, an area in Lome and Kodjoviakope, which is near Aflao are mainly Nigerians but also include some Togolese, Liberians, Ghanaians and Ivorian nationals.

Meanwhile massive celebrations planned in Lome by Nigerian fans in anticipation of a Nigerian victory following the Team's early lead on Sunday turned into a disappointment and a fiasco.

A source at a hotel at Kojoviakope said the Nigerian fans many, of who went into betting, sang, danced and popped drinks over the Eagles' opener but after the Black Stars equalizer followed with the winning goal many of the fans scattered as they became dejected.

He said that some of them in frustration even left bars without paying for drinks in anger.

Peter Umorona, a Nigerian who talked to the GNA Sports while cooling off his disappointment alongside others at a beach in Lome, said: "I have never felt so let down in life except when my wife unexpectedly deserted me 10 years ago.

"The Eagles really tore us apart and gave us a bad night," another fan said.